Bielsa is a maverick,  this is a massive statement being made by Leeds United.

The likelihood of him being a success is 50/50 imo...

However he is a massive name, managed Chile,  Argentina, Athletic Bilbao amongst others. Leeds will be great to watch next year,  I'm intrigued to see what happens...

Jon Flanagan anyone? Released by Liverpool and still only 25. Can play right and left back if I remember correctly.

10 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

From Rich Sharpe

Seen Frankie Fielding’s name linked with #Rovers this morning. TM has spoken about adding more experienced competition to David Raya so could be one to keep an eye on.

He is first choice keeper at Bristol City and recently signed a new deal. Why would he come to us to stay on the bench?

What a top bloke. He says the right things and on the pitch he has got it right so far. 

Genuienly excited to see who we sign and how the team shapes up this summer. 

Imo without any recruits our squad would finish 15th or higher, so with some decent signings and a little luck, top 10 is doable.

10 hours ago, Stuart said:

Sentiment could be our undoing this Summer. Not wanting to drop players from first XI to bench, we’ll end up replacing the loanees rather than upgrading any starters.

Fingers crossed I’m wrong. A Huth is exactly what we need. Proven pedigree and better than what we have. We need a new striker too, and a right back. And a centre mid. And two wingers.

Apart from that, we are in great shape.

Huth is a leader and we need a few more in the championship. Our overall squad needs to remain stable with about 5/6 new additions ( Chapman/ Armstrong May use up 2 of those spaces)

2 hours ago, FGS5635 said:

You say stoke are better tactically under lambert, yet they had a better points per game ratio under hughes than under lambert.

1 win in 14 is pretty bad tactics no matter how you dress it up

Pretty bad? That’s atrocious. 

Awful appointment. A managers job mid season is to improve the players available to him and give them some confidence. What has Lambert actually done?? Facts are that Moore at West Brom has shown what can be done, 1 in 14 or probably more pertinently 0 wins in 13 games. 

Edit 7.1% win percentage. Which manager in the history was worse? De Boer? Any other takers?

Tan did change the shirt colour from its traditional blue to red...then proceeded to change the badge of the club! He changed his mind a few years ago and subsequently the fans have warmed to him as he has admitted his mistakes. Tan paid ludicrous amounts of money on average players and that is why he limited his funding, perhaps agents involved here to? 

Anyway point is that Tan may not be as bad as the Venkys but that’s not saying much!

I am confused, he is seen talking to and pecking a girl on the neck in a night club. He wasn't pi%##& or seen dancing away. 

Really do not see what the fuss is about. It must be a quiet day if thats the best the Daily Fail can come up, a league one footballer and a girl from love island lol. 

Just now, Athlete said:

He knew that when he took the gig on as head coach with two assistants he'd never ever met 

As for transfers as head coach he'd be given players from above 

Tbh your only has good as your last job.. In his last 25 games at the helm of Rovers and Coventry he's only won three yes three games 

Love how you have plucked this 25 game figure to suit your argument!

How about a team that lost 16 games out of 31 have now lost 3 in 13, what does that say about the job he has done?

I agree with the point about coaches and transfers to a certain extent...However he deserves praise for what he has done so far, he is also clearly a man of integrity, which gets a thumb up from me.

Just now, Athlete said:

basing three wins in 13 as a average would most certainly have us relegated

But thankfully draws count too so I would say with certainly that we would have survived.

He has had no pre season, no transfer window, very little time on the training ground with the players and took us over when we were in the relegation zone. I think he has surpassed expectations to get us to here.

We have won 3 in 13 games with Tony M but also only lost 3 in that time too. Based on a season we would be safe. The quality of the players is dire.

For example, Forest had a striker they paid nearly 6 million pounds for yesterday amongst other players they paid millions for. Birmingham were close to play offs this year before the ludicrous sacking of Rowett and have spent decent money over January. Bristol City have a top class striker up front and again have spent 17 million pounds. What do we have? 250k for a left back, loans that no one wants? Let's not be blinded to the fact that Tony M is not the issue here.

6 points clear with 2 games in hand.

5 points gap but two games in hand. Context...we would have to lose 4 games in a row and the teams below us to win 2 in a row. possible, but not likely.

Just finished Orange is the new black.

Super show.

Conway's decent but "one of the best players in the league"? Come on now. Clubs aren't exactly banging down the door to try and take him from us. He's good in comparison to the rest of the team, but hey... he's competing with the likes of Lowe, Williamson and Chris Brown. It's not difficult to look alright.

If Rhodes gets injured or we sell him, we're sunk IMO. That's pretty much the be all and end all from my perspective because nobody else in our team scores goals and without goals, we won't get anywhere.

Look at the last 2 seasons and the number of assists that he gets. He is one of the best in the league.

Said many times before, when we got relegated from the 1st Division, second division 1st time, PL,

That kind of narrative gets in the players mind, net result disaster

In Rhodes and Conway we have two of the very best players in the league. If they stay fit we will comfortably finish between 8th and 12th.

I agree that it could happen but Bowyer has shown himself to be someone who is capable of leading a team to those positions. Promotion places? Not going to happen with our defensive frailties.

In my opinion there is as much of a chance of us getting promotion as there is relegation. We are destined for mid table. We have enough quality in the team to be 8th-12th this season with Bowyer.

I blasted through all the seasons of Damages last year, court room shows wouldn't normally be my cup of t(although it isn't really a regular court room show) Glen Close is brilliant in the show and how can you not like Rose byrne yum yum(and an very talented actor of course) lots of really good characters along the way played by some brilliant 'forgotten men' actors'(Ted Danson, martin Short, Tate Donovan) really smart show full of twists and turns.

I really like Timophy Olyphant as an actor but couldn't get into justified.

Take my word for it, the first 5/6 episodes are slow but then it picks up. You will be hooked by the end of season 1.

I am really enjoying Damages so hope season 2 continues with season 1. Agreed about Rose Byrne lol.

I was bored and have just finished watching the first season of Damages with Glen Close. Very good court room drama and lots of twists.

Can I also recommend Justified. Superb American TV show where the lead and villain are complex and fascinating to see change as the show progresses.

I've finally started The West Wing. Seems a very very different proposition to House of Cards (US) which I've loved so far.

House of Cards is my favourite show of the last few years, on par with GOT and Suits for me.

The sad passing of someone always puts things into perspective.

A valued member of the forum,

RIP

You mean the one he puts past the post?

Welcome onboard Ruben!

Oops!

cracking bit of skill to get into the position though!

Watch the goal at around 2.20, awesome, fantastic ball control, dribbling ability, skill and finish. He is certainly talented.

RIP, sad day.

R.I.P

a tragedy, thoughts are with his family.

Ssn reporting he has signed for west ham on a deal til 2012,can't see any other report